You just found out that you're expecting... Congratulations!

Now what?

As you begin to prepare for pregnancy and parenthood, there will be a long to-do list of things to organize and take care of before your baby is born. And you may be wondering where to start, especially if you are a first time parent.

One of the first tasks you may want to complete is building your birth team. Choosing the right prenatal care provider will have a direct effect on your pregnancy and birth. But even before you choose your provider, you may want to hire a doula first. Hiring a doula will give you the continuity of care you will want and need during pregnancy, birth and beyond. But they can also guide you in various ways such as helping you choose your provider and where to give birth, learning about childbirth and the stages or labor as well as how to prepare for postpartum and caring for your newborn.

Many families meet with several doulas before making a final decision. When choosing a doula you will want to be sure that they fully support your birth plan and family needs, fit your budget and align with your personal and family values. While it is important to take your time with your choice and be sure before committing to the investment of doula support, timing can also make a difference.

Three Reasons to Hire Your Doula Early

1. Availability- Many experienced and established doulas are highly sought after and that usually means that they book clients quickly. When searching for your doula, you will want to ask about their availability for your due date as well as how many clients they take per month. Starting your search early will ensure that you have ample time to meet with doulas, narrow down your choices and hire someone who can support you throughout your pregnancy and well before labor begins.
2. Continuity of Care-Continuity of care is important because it not only gives new parents peace of mind and reassurance, it can be especially beneficial for first-time parents. Knowing that you have a handpicked professional to be there for you can make the adjustment period easier. Families know what to expect ahead of time and are better prepared for new things that may arise. With plans and support people in place, families tend to thrive so much better. 
3. ​Value- Hiring your doula early ensures that you spend ample time with them and makes your investment well worth it. Imagine the difference in care and support if you hire your doula at 20 weeks instead of 30 weeks. You will receive much more education, reassurance and support in those additional weeks and that means getting the most for your money too.

Hiring a doula can have immeasurable benefits for you and your family. It is well known that doula support improves birth outcomes for both mothers and babies during labor and postpartum. One of my priorities as a doula is to ensure that my clients are heard and cared for thoroughly. Throughout pregnancy there are so many things to remember, plan and schedule. More often than not, this can be overwhelming and leave many feeling lost on where to begin. My job is to help families face the unknown head on and develop a plan. I am committed to educating and informing my clients on all of their options while building their confidence and diminishing their fears about childbirth and parenting. I am the support person they will likely see and talk to the most throughout pregnancy. And even after birth, I still provide the same level of care by checking in regularly, answering questions, providing referrals and resources and as always, a listening ear.

If you're thinking about hiring a doula, start today. It can make a big difference in your pregnancy, birth and fourth trimester. You can find more information on the right doula for you here.

The Honest Truth: This year was more than I anticipated. Lots of unexpected things, disappointments, adjustments and feelings about it all. BUT, as I reflect on who I am and what I have, I am very thankful for the good and the bad because I am truly blessed and God's hand is always upon me.

When I wrote this post a few months ago, I wasn't sure what was in store for me for the second half of 2023. This season has truly been one of going where God wants me to go and being content even when I don't understand everything. But I am happy to say that I have been led to some great opportunities and connected with some beautiful souls.

I'm Most Thankful To Be Doing God's Work

You may be aware that I offer companion and respite care services. At the beginning of the summer I became a Caregiver Respite Specialist for The Center of Volunteer Caregiving. I serve families all over Wake County and care for some of the most interesting and delightful elders. While this position does have it's challenges, I know that I am needed. Supporting the aging community has definitely given me a greater appreciation for life. In July, I began working at Anchor Perinatal Wellness as one of their on-site postpartum doulas. I care for the "Little Anchors" while their moms attend group therapy. I really love the fact that I've been able to get back into postpartum doula work with this position. I have meet some amazing new moms and helped them navigate motherhood while they improve their mental health. The staff at Anchor is also amazing and they truly care for their clients. Most recently, I have joined the Tree of Life Birth Collective. The collective is made up of Christian birth workers that serve various parts of North Carolina. I've been a doula for almost 9 years and I have longed to find a group of like-minded birth workers that I can share personal and professional successes with, fellowship and pray with, learn from and talk about our walks with Christ and the impact it has on our work. It's only been a few weeks, but I have already seen and felt the benefits of joining the collective. TOL has been such a blessing to me and I know it will only lead to more divine connections. I may not be where I thought I would be at this moment in time, but I am so thankful that God has me right where I need to be and he is developing me for even greater things that I can imagine. I can't wait to see what 2024 brings!

Today, I took some time to write down a few more things that I am thankful for and I wanted to share them with you.

• My husband, son and pup Leo
• My home
• My business and work
• My skills, talents and gifts
• My health (physical, mental and spiritual)
• My salvation (Jesus is IT for me!)
• My faith and prayer life
• My character and integrity
• My spiritual covering
• Laughter
• A heart to help others, especially families
• My future

What are you thankful for?

You're in your final weeks of pregnancy and no doubt you are excited to meet your baby. You've been preparing for months to welcome your new addition, but you may also be a little anxious because you may still have items to complete on your to-do list. No worries!

The list below will help you prioritize what you need to get done and make sure you're not forgetting anything so you can focus on mentally preparing for labor.

Labor & Birth Checklist​

• Labor and parenting classes: Taking classes to help you prepare for labor and parenthood can be especially beneficial if you are a first time parent or if you are looking to have a different birth experience than previous ones. Classes can include Lamaze, breastfeeding course, newborn care, etc.
• Order or purchase labor and postpartum essentials: Be sure that you order your breast pump and purchase any necessities well before labor begins. These items can include nursing and feeding accessories, baby care items and things for the nursery (car seat, stroller, bassinet/crib).
• Take a hospital tour (if possible): Whether you are birthing at home or at the hospital, you should take a tour of the hospital so you can know what to expect during labor and delivery. Home birth could lead to a hospital transfer if complications arise and you will want to be familiar with the hospital policies and protocols beforehand.  While a virtual tour isn't quite the same, it can still give you some insight about your care and stay.
• Finalize your birth plan: After mapping out your birth plan, you will want to go over your plan with your provider and discuss your wishes during and immediately after labor. Your doula can help you with all of the details and answer any questions you may have to complete your plan.
• Create a birth playlist: This fun activity is sure to get you in the right headspace for birth. And the great part is that you can add any type of music that help you move and stay focused during early and active labor. Feel free to bring headphones, earbuds or a small speaker for your birthing space.
• Pack your hospital bags: By 37 weeks, you will want to have your bags packed and ready to go in case your baby decides to come early. Here is a guide on what to pack.
• Delegate your work responsibilities: Decide when your last day of work will be and begin delegating responsibilities and reducing meetings around 30 weeks. If you have the option to work from home, you want to do that in the last few weeks. Make sure your have spoken with HR about the details of your leave.
• New parent celebration: take the time to celebrate yourself and the life growing inside of you. Take maternity photos, have a baby shower or mother's blessing ceremony, plan a Babymoon with your partner and soak up all the love and support you can during this precious time. You won't be able to experience this time again.
• Postpartum planning: having a postpartum plan ensures that you have the necessary time to adjust to life with a newborn and also recover from birth. Putting boundaries in place for family and friends is a good idea when thinking about visitors and your overall state postpartum. As time passes, your plan may adjust and that is perfectly fine. Things to think about and include in your postpartum plan: physical recovery, bonding with your newborn, your relationship with you partner, co-sleeping, breastfeeding/pumping, introducing a bottle, appointments, finances, returning to work after leave, childcare, etc. If you give birth prematurely, experience any type of trauma, loss (pregnancy or otherwise) or mental challenges before or during pregnancy, it may be a good idea to do some extended postpartum planning.
• Choose a pediatrician: Just like choosing a prenatal provider for yourself, you will want to take some time to choose a pediatrician for your baby. You will want to consider practice size, location, services provided, office hours and overall fit, care and support for your family.​
• Explore childcare options: depending on the length of your leave and when/if you are planning to return to work, you will want to discuss and plan your childcare needs well in advance. Day care waiting list can be 6 months to over a year long. You will also want to consider your budget, quality of care, options (family care, home day care, nanny, or traditional day care) and location.
• Update insurance (health, life, etc.): this is something that you won't be able to officially do until after your baby is born, but it is a good idea to go ahead and start preparing.
• Preparing for the unexpected: While it may seem daunting to think about such things, you will want to be prepared for the unexpected when it comes to labor and birth. Premature birth, cesarean birth, a NICU stay or infant loss is always a possibility and it is better to be prepared for it than caught off guard and trying to make big decisions about the care of your baby in the moment.
  

If you have anything else to do outside of what is listed above, don't panic. Take each item as it comes, ask for help and remember, your baby won't know or care if it doesn't get done until after they are born. The goal is to lighten the load at a steady pace and lighten the stress.